Title: Should You Use First Person In A Research Paper?

When it comes to academic writing, one of the most debated topics is whether or not to use first
person pronouns. Should "I," "we," and "our" find their way into scholarly work, or should writers
maintain a more detached, third-person perspective? This question often leaves students grappling for
answers as they strive to strike the right balance between objectivity and personal engagement in
their research papers.

Writing a thesis or research paper is an arduous task that demands meticulous attention to detail,
exhaustive research, and coherent argumentation. But amidst the rigorous demands of academic
writing, the decision about using the first person can add an additional layer of complexity. On one
hand, the use of "I" can lend a sense of transparency and authenticity to the writer's voice, allowing
them to express personal insights and reflections. On the other hand, some academic traditions
prioritize a more impersonal tone, emphasizing the objective presentation of facts and arguments over
subjective experiences.

Navigating this dilemma can be daunting, especially for those new to academic writing or grappling
with the conventions of their discipline. It requires careful consideration of the expectations of the
audience, the norms of the academic community, and the specific requirements of the assignment.

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So, should you use first person in a research paper? The answer ultimately depends on a variety of
factors, including the expectations of your audience, the conventions of your discipline, and the
specific requirements of your assignment. But whatever decision you make, remember that help is
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The text should be written for a general audience, should be clear and explicit the exposition and the
argument, without useless facts or meaningless pieces of evidence. Graphs, tables, and results are
not human beings, so they do not show, do not indicate or present anything. But you should not
include a colon if the first item in the list is part of the sentence. Usually, the perspective character is
the main character of the story, but not always. If your teacher asks you to create an MLA outline,
we recommend using roman numerals, capital and lowercase letters, and numbers. Technical report
writing and research paper writing. Second, you should avoid using feminine or masculine
terminologies when using third person point of view. I do agree that is makes the writing more
difficult but lots of things are more difficult when they are done the proper way. If any entry runs
over more than one line, indent the subsequent line(s) 0.5 inch from the left margin (sometimes
called a hanging indent). If you cite only one source in the list, the title should be “Work Cited.” If
you include sources that you only consulted and didn’t cite directly, the title should be changed
accordingly to “Works Cited and Consulted.”. I do not think that Christopher lies because he might
not understand it. Thus, using personal pronouns as the first one or two words of a sentence will
draw unnecessary attention to them (unless, of course, that was your intent). By the time you finish
reading this article, you will have a very clear picture on the issue of using first person in your
research paper assignment. These types of footnotes and endnotes are helpful when explaining
translations, adding background information, or sharing counterexamples to research. Consider a
favorite novelist or a reliable news source. The first-person perspective’s limited nature will help
beginning writers avoid some common POV mistakes such as head-hopping which means shifting
your POV character without letting the reader know. As a result, it may be preferable to introduce a
topic by referencing credible sources rather than relying on one’s own personal experience as an
authority. Your reader will be spending a lot of time with your point of view character, so make it
worth their time. For more information on how to style page numbers, check out the next section,
“Running Head and Page Numbers.”. First, you have to use indefinite pronoun to refer back to the
subject. Thanks for contributing an answer to Academia Stack Exchange. It’s Nick who is left to
contemplate the havoc wrought by Tom and Daisy. I won’t say much about the plot (because it’s
been years since I read it), but the book centers around a young girl named Scout. For instance,
talking about an experience you had when you went to a public forum might be pertinent in a
persuasive essay about why more people need to attend public forums. He was not only a great
scientist, but a great scientific writer. The first musical score in the project should be labeled as Ex. 1.
The second musical score found in an assignment should be labeled as Ex. 2., and so on. You can
also review Appendix 1 in the MLA Handbook. Using the third person introduces uncertainty, and
context will not always allow for conciseness until surrounding phrases clarify who is acting. Here’s
a breakdown of the words that should be excluded. Unleashing the Power of AI Tools for Enhancing
Research, International FDP on. The use of first person in a research paper indicates presentation of
information based on what you’ve found from your research.
In this guide you’ll find further information including directions for the use of quotes without an
author, page numbers, and how to properly credit work from electronic sources. He prefers dogs
because they do not have complicated emotions and he can understand them better “I like dogs. One
of the questions we get a lot at Help for Assessment is can I use first person in a research paper. Did
you create an in-text citation for each individual piece of information. The text must always be
impersonal, in the third person (search, intend, notice itself), or in the first person plural (we look for,
pretend, we note). While binders and plastic holders are cute, in reality, they add bulk to a professor
or instructor who may like to take the papers home for grading purposes. My pet hate is lecturers
who uncritically criticise students for using the third person. He might not have a lot of close friends
but it looks like he knows a lot of people and a lot of those people consider him as their friend.
Many source types, such as books and articles, use fonts that are easy to read, so if you’re seeking an
appropriate font style, look at other sources for guidance. Before they begin writing, most academic
writers will be given a style to follow, and they will need to edit their words and referencing to fit
that style. Begin the label with the abbreviation “Fig.,” which is short for figure. He uses only “and”,
“but” and “because” as conjunctions in his writing, this makes his style unvaried and tends to be
monotonous. The image closest to the beginning of the project should be labeled as Fig. 1. The next
image in the project should be Fig. 2. and so on. For example, “two halves equal” or “grouped
together.”. If you think it’s beneficial for the reader, then include it. See the “Quotations” section of
this guide to learn how to properly attribute your paraphrased information. This guide does not serve
as a reference for MLA citation format. After all, the readers were not involved in analyzing or
formulating the conclusions presented in your paper (although, we note that the point of your paper
is to persuade readers to reach the same conclusions you did). In truth, for generations, we’ve been
discouraged from using “I” and “we” in academic writing simply due to old habits. If your instructor
requires you to create a standalone title page, ask him or her for specifications. A first-person
pronoun is a warning sign, indicating that a certain experiment may only be carried out by a specific
individual or group. There are numerous grammar checkers available to review your project prior to
submission. Avoid using too far-fetched language or unnecessary terms. When to speak about a
repetition of words, the two main errors should be pointed out: when the same word is used several
times in a sentence or paragraph and the use of tautology. While Parr’s work features characters of
various colors, such as pink or blue, children easily correlate it with individuals of different races and
ethnicities. But there are more differences than similarities for instance Holden’s favourite subject is
English because he is creative and Christopher prefers math and science since he seems to like facts.
You’re not! You’ve created a character, a different person from you who has had different
experiences than you. The reader wants to know who did the thinking or assuming, the author, or
some other expert. Christopher doesn’t try to understand people by himself, he will need to ask and
if he still doesn’t understand he will walk away. On the other hand Holden’s interest is more in
English because he can be creative “That sonuvabitch Hartzell thinks you’re a hot-shot in English” (“
The Catcher in the Rye” )(14). Works that are part of a larger work (like articles, chapters, or specific
episodes) are formatting in quotation marks.
It’s a clear perspective that isn’t difficult to write. Here’s a breakdown of the words that should be
excluded. Certain words are abbreviated, some words are omitted, and other words are written in
full. The general rule is that works that are self-contained (like books, journals, or television shows)
are formatted in italics. It is one of the most common mistakes when research papers have the first-
person language. The title should be written in standard lettering, without underlines, bold font,
italicized font, or any quotation marks. If you want to add a page number (or another indicator of the
place in a work), add it after the author’s surname without any punctuation between the surname and
the page number. The first table seen in the project is labeled as Table 1. Please let us know your
thoughts in the comments section below. It’s included in the parentheses at the end of the sentence.
The beginning of a sentence is a noticeable position that draws readers’ attention. Using the third
person introduces uncertainty, and context will not always allow for conciseness until surrounding
phrases clarify who is acting. If you prefer, hire a professional who specializes in proofreading and
will make all the necessary corrections and notes for quality work. Staples work best, and binder and
paper clips are the next best option. He uses only “and”, “but” and “because” as conjunctions in his
writing, this makes his style unvaried and tends to be monotonous. There’s plenty of opinions on the
book, so I won’t bother giving mine. Holden’s descriptions are more on his surroundings and the
atmosphere. If you’ve ever recounted a personal story to your friends, then you’ve used the first-
person point of view. When we think about this, we find out that we can only consider him as partly
human; we can even compare him with a robot. This introduction should take place in your story’s
opening paragraphs to create a bond between your character and the reader. For example, students
searching for programming assignment help online will often land on written and video tutorials that
use the second person point of view to give direction on setting up projects and writing code. If your
instructor does not provide you with any expectations or guidance, a simple staple in the top left
corner should suffice. Align the title so it sits in the center of the MLA format paper. I won’t say
much about the plot (because it’s been years since I read it), but the book centers around a young girl
named Scout. He prefers dogs because they do not have complicated emotions and he can
understand them better “I like dogs. Second, you should avoid using feminine or masculine
terminologies when using third person point of view. Switching from one point of view to another
can only make your research paper hard to read since leads to distraction. As always, if your
instructor provides you with specific directions, follow his or her guidelines. He spends countless
hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write
engaging essays, research papers, and assignments. Even if you know certain that personal pronouns
are not appropriate in research paper writing, look at the assignment guidelines to figure out what
your teacher wants.
Avoid using this pronoun at all costs because you never want to communicate directly with the
reader. If any entry runs over more than a line, indent the subsequent line(s) 0.5 inch from the left
margin. It is acceptable to use abbreviations in all of these sources. This uniform, or consistent,
method to developing a paper or assignment allows for easy reading. The first musical score in the
project should be labeled as Ex. 1. The second musical score found in an assignment should be
labeled as Ex. 2., and so on. If you know what to look for, they are easy to differentiate from one
another. The general rule is that works that are self-contained (like books, journals, or television
shows) are formatted in italics. Check the page settings section of the program to locate the margin
size. Long phrases make it difficult to read and understand and make your text very tiring. Take the
example of an unreliable narrator who is lying about the events of the story. The focus is therefore on
the research, not the person conducting the research. Ultimately, if you feel that using first person has
a purpose or will have a strategic effect on your audience, then it is probably fine to use first-person
pronouns. If the reader has a single character’s perspective, they will know who is thinking. For
example, the first person is more likely used in the abstract, Introduction section, Discussion section,
and Conclusion section of an academic paper while the third person and passive constructions are
found in the Methods section and Results section. Although both narrators are very interesting, I can
relate to one and not the other and this makes him a better narrator. Christopher is more of a
scientific mathematic person because he very easily remembers facts and figures “I know all the
countries of the world and their capital city and every prime number up to 7,507.” ( “The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” )(2) or “Mostly, I read books about science and math.”( “The
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” )(5). Although we’re not affiliated with the MLA,
our citation specialists bring you this thoughtful and informative guide on the format. If it isn’t
already right-aligned, go to the “Home” menu and right-align your name. This field is also one in
which you might be asked to keep a journal, a kind of writing that requires you to apply theoretical
concepts to your experiences. In the case of projects that are planned to be carried out, the verbs
should be used the future tense ( “to search” ). However, it’s not the best choice for your epic,
world-building fantasy. When reading a first-person point of view, you’ll notice the narrator using
the following pronouns. I encourage you to pick up a few titles and read them yourself. Even if you
know certain that personal pronouns are not appropriate in research paper writing, look at the
assignment guidelines to figure out what your teacher wants. Unleashing the Power of AI Tools for
Enhancing Research, International FDP on. Jay’s unnatural obsession consumes him and ultimately
leads to his murder at the hands of Daisy’s husband, Tom. Do NOT underline, bold, or type the title
in all capital letters. The first-person point of view gives the reader a sense of familiarity or even
intimacy with the narrator. It has four moods. Happy, sad, cross and concentrating. That is, double-
check your institution or target journal’s author guidelines.